The Travel Bug

Discovering the world around me, one place at a time...

30 July 2015

Driving Etiquettes to Know for Travellers in Dubai

Photo credit: emirates247.com

Travelling to the cosmopolitan city of Dubai is one of the many wishes of travellers. There are many ways to enjoy Dubai and the many scenic places to see while in the Middle East. You can join an excursion or land tours or even commute. However, if you are like other people who prefer to discover beautiful attractions on your own, driving will be a good way to see the city.

Driving in Dubai can be fun, exciting, and daunting all at the same time. People who are driving in Dubai for the first time may find the unfamiliar roads challenging. Do not let that scare you because Dubai has wide, clean and well-kept roads. The road signs are very visible. There are police and traffic enforcement everywhere so you will be safe. Road side assistance is available and plenty of gas stations, supermarkets and food kiosks line up the long stretches of wide roads leading to the various emirates adjoining Dubai.

Even if you are a seasoned driver who is accustomed to driving elsewhere, it is best to know the driving etiquettes of Dubai. Aside from that, Dubai has strict road safety and traffic policy in place.

1. Driving and Drinking does not mix

This is a universal rule in driving. It applies in all countries. You do not drive when you even have a tiny drop of alcohol in your system. It is simply unacceptable. The Dubai Police and Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are responsible in imposing fines and black point systems to motorists who do not follow the rules.

2. No hand and arm gestures

It is not acceptable in this part of the world to gesture or sway your hands aggressively to another motorists. You can get in hot water especially when you gesture or even point fingers. With the big roads of Dubai, expect drivers to drive fast and recklessly and you may even get cut off because that is just how other drivers here treat the road and other motorists.

3. No cursing or swearing

If you are coming from a place where road rage, swearing and cursing are part of the driving norm, then Dubai is not the place for that. I bet, drivers here also curse, swear and rage under many circumstances but not within hearing range of the other motorists. It is highly offensive to curse at anyone here. Do not badmouth other drivers no matter how terrible they are in driving.

4. Use the indicators/signals properly

Photo credit: parade.com

Many drivers here do not seem to know the importance of indicating or using signals. Some drivers will signal but never change or turn and others would suddenly swerve to your lane without any notice. I have been to many countries and have observed how other people drive. I know this happens anywhere too but based on my experience living in this country for many years, drivers who do not use any signals or indicators are highly concentrated here.

5. Give way to the tram, public and school buses

When you see any of them on the road and needs to pass, give courtesy and let them pass. Also, stop when you are behind a school bus that is dropping of children to the curb. Observe common courtesy.

6. Keep calm and drive on

You may find yourself driving casually until a big vehicle tailgates you and starts flashing headlights so fast that it can cause epilepsy. Do not panic. Do not get mad. And never gesture and swear. Just signal and change lane and allow the vehicle to pass. Do not ruin your vacation just because some people are inconsiderate or they simply do not know road courtesy. Hey, you do! So, relax, give way and just drive according to the speed limit and keep distance.

It is imperative to acquaint yourself with your new surrounding, the orientation of the driver's side in this country, the laws and regulations, and fines and violations. You can get tips from other travellers who have driven here and in other places around the world from this travel guide.

**This promotion is valid online only at www.littlepassports.com. To redeem enter code BTS25 at checkout. Offer valid ONLY on school supplies and cannot be combined with any other offers and/or applied retroactively to previously placed orders. Offer excludes shipping and taxes. Offer valid from July 29, 2015 at 8:00AM EST to August 1, 2015 at 11:59PM EST.

27 July 2015

Free Constellation Activity Sheet for Camp Explorer Week #3

**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

This week with the Little Passports Blog-Camp Explorer Week 3, you can watch your kids reach for the stars! Literally. Let your kids explore more about the universe, the constellations and the galaxy! Download their free constellation activity sheet and watch your child learn the names and shapes of six constellations!

While you are on the Little Passports blog, find out what it is like to raise a Global Citizen in Pakistan from Little Passports' latest guest blogger, Zareen Rahman. Zareen is a stay at home mom and shares a typical day with her daughter in their home town of Lahore, Pakistan.

24 July 2015

Little Passport's Scavenger Hunt and Japan Trip Info

**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Last week, I featured an article about summer activities involving campfires and of course, yummy recipes to go with the camping! The Little Passports Camp Explorer Activity Series continues this week and not only that, there is a Scavenger Hunt involved as well! Super exciting! See how many items you and your little Explorer can find. Go on- get outside with the Little Passports Blog-Camp Explorer Week 2!

When you are ready to come back inside, Little Passports has you covered. They asked travel writer and mom of three, Heather Jenks, how she introduced Japan to her family with Little Passports. Read what she had to say on the blog post Traveling to Japan with Little Passports . Maybe even try the origami boat activity. Will your Little Explorer's boat float better if they color the bottom with a wax crayon? Introducing Japan to your kids will give them a lot of insight about the country's magnificent culture, history and art. I have been to Japan 2 years ago and up until now, I still vividly recall the place, the people, the sceneries, the amazing food, their intricate artistry and many more. Let your kids have that kind of experience using Little Passport.

Interested in the Japan country Kit? It is the second country Sam and Sofia visit so can be explored with any of the World Edition subscriptions ( 12, 6, or 3 months)! Sign up for your subscription and start exploring!

Interested in more Little Passports blog posts? You can find lots of indoor and outdoor activities on the Little Passports Blog.

19 July 2015

Review - Moxy Milan Malpensa Hotel

Moxy Milan Malpensa Hotel is a very chic, trendy and modern accommodation just right in front of Malpensa Airport Terminal 2. It is a very convenient hotel especially for those who are just stopping to Milan for a brief stay or business meeting and need to connect to the airport quickly.

The city centre of Milan is not a short drive from Malpensa Airport. My daughter and I decided to book our 1 night stay the day before we left Milan so we didn't have to hassle our relatives by driving us to the airport at the wee hours of the morning. Our flight via EasyJet to Barcelona was around 6:30 a.m. so it was a good decision to check in this hotel. I had a great deal with this hotel via Booking.com and it was perfect in many levels!

What I like:
Location. I can't stress that enough. It's located right in front of Malpensa Airport Terminal 2 so there is no need to catch a cab to get to the airport. It was barely 5 minutes walk from the hotel. We were lucky enough to find few bag carts outside the hotel so we didn't have to pull heavy luggages.

Check-out was fast because everything was paid for, including the meals I have ordered. Although I had the option to pay afterwards. I decided to pay for the coffee, snacks and other meals I have ordered upfront so I didn't have to worry about check-out.

The hotel's lobby is ultra modern with many novelty furniture and lighting to add pizzazz. There are plenty of seating space in the lobby and it wasn't very crowded when we were there.

(There are plenty of seating areas in the lobby of Moxy. You can eat there if you like or just read books or surf the internet. Your choice!)

The room was just the right size for my daughter and I. It's' practically ok in European standards. We had enough space for our luggages without having to bump to the bed or chair.

The room is well-lit.

There are plenty of electrical socket unlike the other hotels we have stayed at in the past.

The amenities are very modern and hi-tech. There are USB and HDMI ports along with the electrical sockets so we could watch using our hard disk or USB or laptop.

The flat screen TV is huge and has English channels.

The bed was soft and yet so comfortable. We had a very sound sleep.

The room is soundproofed too! Like I said earlier, it was very, very close to the airport and we didn't hear any of the aircraft taking off or landing or any outside noise for that matter. The rooms are soundproofed.

The bathroom is spacious and clean. It has bathroom amenities and well-supplied too. The towels have Marriott logos too. There is a bidet and a flush toilet. The shower area is separate and spacious.

There is free wi-fi all over the hotel.

Accessibility is not an issue as the hotel offers ramps in and out for guests with disability.

They also allow pets. However, check their hotel's policies before booking.

They offer grab-n-go meal and drink selection which you can have in the many seating areas in the lobby or take them in your room.

(Bar/resto/coffee nook of the hotel. Yummy cappuccino too! The far end of the bar serves as the check-in/out counter too.)

There is plenty of condiments to use and also microwaves to heat your food.

What I don't like:
Nothing. This is a perfect hotel for us.

Price:
Standard Double Room for €59 including tax for a night. via Booking.com

My recommendation: 5 out of 5

I highly recommend this property for families, business travellers, travellers with pets and couples. This is a mod property in front of Malpensa Airport Terminal 2 and the location is perfect. It is not near the city centre but the hotel also offers shuttles for guest to and from Malpensa Terminal 1 so guests can catch the train to connect to the city.

Nearby attractions:
Rho Fiera Milano
Milan Expo 2015

Moxy Milan Malpensa hotel is part of the Marriott chain of properties. It is located at Milan Malpensa Airport - Terminal 2, 21010 Case Nuove, Italy.

If you want to book this hotel or find similar hotels near Case Nuove area, you may search hotels in this booking.com app below:Booking.comDisclosure:
This hotel review is my personal review. I have paid for this stay and in no way sponsored by the property nor Booking.com. I love to book via Booking.com because I always find a very competitive rate or great deals when compared to other booking sites. My opinion is 100% mine and may vary from yours.

15 July 2015

Camp Explorer and Recipes for Great Summer Campfires from Little Passports

**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

This summer, Little Passports is posting an exciting Camp Explorer activity series on their blog! Summer is a great time to venture and experience fun activities while outdoors. You can go camping, have a bonfire, cook some tasty meals and dine al fresco too! Check out their most recent post and learn how to make a great campfire recipe- your very own Pan de Campo. Did you know that Pan de Campo is the official state bread of Texas? It is also referred to as cowboy bread!

07 July 2015

Three Ways To Make Your Summer Vacation Successful

If you're preparing a summer vacation right now, you likely want it to be as successful as possible. To ensure that everything goes off without a hitch, consider implementing these simple planning strategies:

1. Get All The Right Products.

Irrespective of where you're going, there are likely products and items you'll need to make your trip successful. For example, individuals who are traveling to the beach will likely need items like beach towels, surfboards, sunscreen, hats, etc. Buying all of these items can make your trip more organized and preclude unnecessary frustration. When you start the search for a great company that will ensure that you have fun in the sun, think of Copa. The company prides itself on offering a wide range of absolutely amazing beach products.

2. Don't Leave Your Health At The Door.

When people go on vacation, they have a great proclivity to neglect good health habits such as exercising and eating well. In the minds of many, this is a part of the "vacation." Don't fall into this trap. When you cease maintaining good health habits, you will feel sluggish, decrease your vitality, and lower your immunity such that you are more susceptible to a plethora of unwanted diseases. With all of this in mind, plan to stay active and eat a balanced diet while you are away.

3. Consider Your Traveling Companions.

One final strategy you should implement to make your vacation excellent is to consider your traveling companions. Ideally, you want to travel with people who are positive and don't nitpick about every little thing. If you know that someone in your circle has a tendency to be negative or complain, it may be a good idea to discreetly plan a vacation which they are not a part of.

Conclusion

If you're preparing to go on vacation and want to ensure that you have a blast, know that getting all the right products, maintaining good health, and considering your traveling companions can help you realize your goal. Good luck!